Isolation cut to 5 days but population error skews vaccine rate
(CNS): Government has announced a reduction in the quarantine time from ten days down to five for people who have had an approved, verifiable COVID-19 vaccine, starting next week. The requirement for a pre-arrival negative coronavirus PCR test has been reinstated but travellers no longer need to get tested upon arrival at the airport.
Government is also facing a recalculation on vaccine-generated herd immunity after a review of the population revealed that the estimate has been off by more 6,000 (up from around 65,000 to 71,100). This means that at least another 10,000 people will now need to be vaccinated before Cayman passes the rate of 70%, the very minimum protection needed before the borders can reopen.
Less than 24 hours after the PACT Government was criticised by the opposition for failing to address the country on its plans for reopening, Premier Wayne Panton began outlining those very plans for the coming months and the gradual lifting of border restrictions, culminating in a fully reopened border at the end of October. He explained that the press conference was delayed by a week because of new medical and public health data and the issues surrounding the population numbers.
But as he thanked them for their concern, he told his former PPM colleagues that the PACT Government “has got this”.
Dismissing the criticisms by the opposition, Panton pointed out that reopening was a more difficult and challenging proposition from locking down. He said the aim of his government was to ensure a safe, prudent, responsible, organised and certain reopening that would not need to be reversed. He stressed that government was going to be led by the data and not dates and had a plan that he was confident struck the right balance between health and safety and the need to restart tourism.
Panton said that, given the need to vaccinate even more people than anticipated because of the incorrect population estimates and the danger of reopening before reaching herd immunity, the rollout towards fully open borders for high season had to be managed properly. He said he expected to allow a limited return of visitors sometime in mid-September, when they would be allowing the return of some commercial flights.
The premier explained that he did not think setting an opening date of 1 September, the date suggested by the opposition, was wise given how close that was to the start of the academic year, when a significant number of students and teachers will be returning. However, later that month the country could expect to see the first tourists allowed into the country.
In the short-term, he said, government remained focused on getting the vaccination numbers up. With the revelation that so many more people need to be vaccinated to reach the minimum required level of herd immunity, he said the 10,000 additional people was the least number. Ideally they would need some 17,000 people to reach 80% of the now revised population estimate of 71,100 and more certain protection, especially given that the majority of the remaining 20% will be children and those not able to be vaccinated because of medical reasons.
British Airways is expected to bring 12,000 more doses this evening (Wednesday), but Governor Martyn Roper confirmed that more would obviously be required, given the change in the population estimate. He said his office has not yet asked for additional vaccines and will not do so until they see the take-up of this new supply.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced another prize draw for everyone who has been vaccinated, and this time it’s for cash. He said he was reaching out to the business community to help him raise up to $100,000 to fund a number of significant cash prizes in order to reach the new and greatly increased numbers to make reopening safe.
Meanwhile, the government also announced a number of other key changes. From 1 July those entering Cayman on non-essential travel who are not able to isolate at home will be required to pay to use the government quarantine facilities. Health Minister Sabrina Turner said the cost is around $2,800 for two weeks. But there will no charge for the home residency isolation programme.
The government team confirmed that the pension contribution holiday will be extended to the end of this year. They also said that the stipends for tourism workers would continue until at least the end of October, but government plans to survey recipients to review everyone’s circumstances.
The programme covering insurance premiums of unemployed and furloughed workers in the sector will also be extended for another three months, but those receiving or who would like to receive the help are being asked to apply or re-apply for that assistance to the Health Insurance Commission before the end of this month.
See the full press briefing below on CIGTV:
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Category: Local News
People may not like the decisions taken but they are clearly based on a sound policy of putting our people first and the best available medical information.
They are based on fear and fear alone.
The irrational variant.
You mean like people taking the vaccine?
Agree. Yours is not a popular opinion within the walls of CNS, however it appears to be supported by people on the street, or at least those around me.
Actually, what the government is doing is setting policy based on the decisions of anti-vaxxers and paranoid xenophobes who are holding us all hostage.
Kinda hard to hold another hostage when they’re needles being jabbed at you from every corner
Government had some very difficult decisions to make. They could never make everyone happy. Given the facts available and the policy of people over profits, they seem to have chosen the best of a lot of not wonderful options.
Government currently hasn’t made any real decisions, hard or otherwise. So far it’s been status quo from the previous government regulations.
Cayman Airways flights are pretty much full until end of July.
Why cant the government allow Cayman Airways to add a couple flights to JFK each week as well? Why are you unnecessarily making this so difficult this summer for us?
“pretty much full”??? Completely full within minutes of the availability being opened. Unless you know someone you ain’t getting on a flight.
So who is taking these in and out of Cayman? People traveling by the 100’s. I can’t even get out for medical reasons.
However, if you have the liquid cash it is possible. We’ve had loads of tourists in the last several months.
Just sit out in the North Sound for an hour or two and watch all the Learjets taking off.
I am very glad that the ‘open the borders no matter the cost’ crowd has a place to vent. Venting is healthy.
Even more glad that our government is not being lead or influenced by them. That is healthier still.
More like anti-vaxers in the Government Admin Building who are ruining this for the majority.
Or you could get vaccinated.
Lost loads of tourists to other Caribbean islands, lots of people booking elsewhere now they know there is no chance of Cayman Islands opening up before 2022. Barbados looking good choice at the moment. Sensible and measured approach to attract tourists.
Different government, same situation – paralyzed by fear of getting it wrong.
So what has not changed? The advice they are relying on. The question is why has Dr Lee, the Governor and any leading Health advisors not been afforded a public scrutiny? A bigger question, is there anyone high up in the power structure here that may offer alternative advice?
Its a serious question – there is a very real chance the decisions are being made by mass group think confirmation bias led by the scientists/health practitioners and UK representatives that have not changed since the start of all this.
In other words, even if PPM were in power, we’d not be getting anything much different in terms of a plan than we have now give or take a start date. Why? Because they are fearful of getting it wrong based on what they are being told.
It happens. It’s happening. But just look around the world at what is going on in so many places –
there was a massive meeting of the global elites in the UK last week, G7 and all that – did you see any of them quarantine and self isolate for days on end before the meetings? No, you didnt.
It does beg the question – if (and i presume they’re all vax’d) they don’t have to quarantine, why do you and I? If they don’t have to social distance from the QUEEN!! The most protected woman in the entire world, and shes in her 90’s!!! Surely that’s the biggest giveaway of all – no quarantine, hang out with the pensioner no bother. Seriously people, open your eyes.
Is there really an end of days virus in existence at all? it just doesn’t add up and Dr Lee and all the other advisors need to come out and publicly explain the following:
why quarantine at all if you’re fully vaccinated?
the UK are going to announce a NO to vax’ing under 18s for now…why have we all of a sudden gone away from UK policy?
help us understand the difference between the ARR and the RRR Dr Lee….that will be an eye opener to everyone.
help us understand how all these people with 2 doses are still dying in hospitals globally? I know its not cool to describe them as deaths by vaccine, but help us understand what’s happening here (30,000+ and counting).
why are we not even considering stock piling known therapeutics (Hydrox/Ivermectin/others) that are being used today globally and have all gone thru over 30 peer reviewed test procedures.
why are we sticking with Pfizer mostly when its modified gene therapy and already showing uneexpected release of the spike protein throughout the body especially into the uterus.
why propose masks again when day after day reports come in about how they prevent air flow and enable transmission of other bacterias and do not prevent covid virus.
what the heck is going on?
Don’t worry – your tinfoil hat and associated delusions offer you complete protection from everything – except stupidity – there is no cure for that.
Lots of claims, no sources cited
Threat to leave #352928…zzzz
Look, if you don’t care about anyone else’s concerns except your pocketbooks, please feel free to leave.
You don’t genuinely want to be here, and clearly don’t care if anyone outside of your circle dies from COVID, and are only chasing dollars that everyone is also struggling with. The new government is actually trying to accommodate everybody’s issues.
Sit down and wait it out or find your next best.
This also goes for any other foreign interests pulling the business card.
I know that I am stupid, but I know dam well population wasn’t sixty five thousand and it’s still more than what they are saying, in all their surveying on cencus I have never ever see anyone come to my house never they need to be honest to the people
8:56 Exactly.. they need to conduct a PROPER census. I have no doubt that there are more people here than that. Just do a damn census already so we can have accurate numbers.
Lets analyze this:
Point 1. They could open and they know it. There are real time examples in other countries that nothing will happen once they do.
Point 2. They pushing the opening back with vague reasons but no real explanations. Why would they do this? It doesn’t affect them.
Always follow the money. The Civil Service and Gov’t offices have not had a pay cut. Once the money runs out (loans and surpluses) they will open.
If the financial district was to start announcing office closures the next press conference would sound like a military briefing with clear details on who, what and when was going happen along with those responsible to make it happen.
Tourism isn’t quite big enough to make the CIG blink, but toss in the Financial District and you will have the Real Estate group raising hell right behind them.
Get Cireba, and the Financial District together and start squeezing the CIG. The Tourism Industry obviously isn’t enough.
Fellow USA citizen that travels to GC quite often with my family (4 kids under 11). We live in the states and everything is open. In fact, where we live less than half the population is vaccinated and we have not seen a spike in months with no restrictions. Don’t let the main stream media fool you. I am not saying covid isn’t real, it is. I have had many employees and family sick with it (most of which had no idea they had it). I truly believe if the island opened all would be OK. I know there are people will hate that fact and this post, but that is the truth. I encourage all to look at the state of California. The MOST shut down state here in the USA and everything is wide open with NO CASE SPIKES. We love GC and love the people and will hopefully be back this year. We are not vaccinated and do not plan to be.
Good for you that most employees and family you know didn’t get sick. But if you don’t vaccinate i for one would not welcome you back here. You may transmit the virus to someone here who does get seriously ill. If you’re willing to quarantine for 14 days, that’s great. If not, enjoy California.
And talking about giving civil servants more money around November/December for working hard but in same breath Government has no money for anything or anybody else and deficit blah blah
The vast, vast majority of the at-risk population, particularly those over 60 (or even 50) are vaccinated. Now that the most vulnerable are largely protected, and a very large proportion of the less vulnerable, it is time to open things up to more commercial airlines, including allowing residents to travel without registration or hoping a Cayman Airways flight opens up.
For god’s sakes, wasn’t this the whole objective?
So can the locally vaccinated students that arrived last night be let out after 5 days?
Perhaps you should ask those students to help you with some reading comprehension. You obviously missed that prat of school.
Bring in the one jab J&J vaccine and a lot of people may reconsider getting pricked.
Already destroyed the tourism industry until mid 2022 at least, now working hard to cripple the financial services industry. Our competitors are open for business, our largest market is totally open but we sit here huddled on the rock assuming (no, hoping and praying!)
that our financial services industry can survive to pay the bills.
CIMA is doing their best right now to kill the financial services providers and industry here , but at least we have the runaway train building development, realty sales and shopping at ALT to keep the economy running.
Oh that’ll crash very quickly
At the press conference it was said that the basis for the new population figure was calculated by taking the last census (2010?) and adding the number of arrivals and subtracting the number departures. While deaths and births were not mentioned presumably they are also thrown in.
Can someone explain how they know the accurate number of departures? I think arrivals are noted because CPB makes a computer entry as you pass through immigration but how are departures determined?
Even just a few years ago, you had to go to a ‘immigration’ counter after the security check, but these days the airlines report your information electronically.
Stupid is as stupid does. Obfuscated, bumbling announcement, Where is the competency? 3 months and this their plan “wait and see” , yes I’ll wait and see when they move the goal posts again. If people don’t want the vaccine, so be it, they can live with the risk. If they die it is call evolution, but don’t make rest of us suffer because these tinfoiled hat people have these bizarre notions. Wayne grow a pair and get this country going again.
If you were on low wages before and are now getting a $1500 a month stipend why bother having the jab? Wouldn’t you want the borders closed as long as possible?
Perhaps, until I realised I was wasting my life watching it go by.
It’s just PA now.
In August they will say we need a 90% vaccination rate and the population will have risen to 85,000. Open the damn border.
Plus 67.2% of the Ching Ching population.
None of it makes any real sense- not from the start of this in early 2020. But here we are. The only sane thing to do is drop quarantine for anyone (vax or unvax – both can spread and catch it anyhow) and simply insist on frequent testing of all travelers for 14 days. You could limit arrivals for sure for non residents.
Anyone worried about Covid spreading can either get a vaccine which isn’t going to stop you getting it anymore than not being vax’d in any meaningful way (just research ARR and RRR and you’ll understand)
And let’s go
Vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection and transmission. Initially, it wasn’t known if they would be able to do this (clinical trail data looked at efficacy at preventing serious illness and death), but continued study of high-risk populations (healthcare and emergency responders) have demonstrated how highly effective these vaccines are at preventing infection in the field.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7013e3.htm
Focussing on ARR rather than RRR is totally misleading. The article linked here will explain why in case you don’t understand this and only garnered your view from an erroneous tweet or an anti-vaxxer website:
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-thelancet-riskreduction-idUSL2N2NK1XA
Thank you the abuse of stats here is so frustrating.
To PACT: this is a golden opportunity. Encourage employers not to renew work permits and hire Caymanians – across the board. Work permit earnings are sent abroad, and right now we need ever dollar kept locally. It is not rocket science: if Caymanians are working, they will spend locally. 👍🏻
Yes mon! Force all businesses that have survived the shut down to hire Caymanians over competent, experienced, and tried and true workers. That should kill off the rest of the hotels and restaurants and Caymanians can finally have the island back. Soon come! Good job CIG! Business that are still waiting should just pack up and leave before you go bankrupt. You are not wanted here.
So true, Stop the Cayman Slave Traders!!
Only them are killing to get borders open. Besides the work permit fees and the scraps WP holders spend (drops in the bucket honestly), they provide no benefit to the local economy while they export millions to countries around the world and refuse to hire Caymanians in any meaningful or “rewarding” position. If some are benefitting, we all should (and Caymanians are definitely not).
The money is not staying in Cayman!!! Anything said to the contrary is simply a lie only an idiot would believe. (Shows what foreigners think of Caymanians).
Not sure why the dislikes on this.
I think most employers would hire a Caymanian that equally meets whatever requirements the job requires.
And no question that hiring locally is better for the economy as the dollars stay in the country.
Maybe its your “Golden Opportunity” “across the board” stance. You know there are about 25,000 more jobs than there are Caymanians.
Name a caymanian that would work for $1200 a month from 7-5.
You think someone on a work permit is going to do the same forever?
Give me a break.
9 years at least!
Rollover is 7.
The tourism industry is in dire straits- we get it. However, there are other ways to create national revenue than mass tourism; let’s make the effort to brainstorm about it, because I suspect that tourism as we knew it will not come back overnight. Tourists are weary, in mourning, their savings depleted, etc. Bashing a three-month old government team is but a futile exercise. They do not have magic wands.
You have got to be kidding. Every vacation rental around me is booked for months out, you can’t get a caterer to help with parties, recreational vehicles, boats, new cars are snapped up as soon as they hit the dealership. Open the border and the dollars will be pouring like a burst dam. And get this…..everyone is taking advantage of those dollars….everyone except CI.
Agreed.
The average stayover US visitor to Cayman will barely have been impacted financially by the pandemic. There is a tremendous sense of optimism in the US now as a result of the vaccine rollout (albeit it has stalled a bit and isn’t great in certain parts of the country).
And they are travelling again. Spending money again. Just not here.
A Caymanian brainstorm? Tourist are wealthy, traveling, and spending all they have saved. Just not here. Did you get brainstormed? Is that what happened to John John?
I just ( right now) booked 2 international trips this summer, 1 long weekend domestic trip for October and am in the process of pricing out for a 5 day in November and a 7 day in December. I missed traveling during Covid and I’m ready to go!!!
The man has no plan and it’s obvious that they are lost.
To say “when you don’t see us you know that we are working hard for you” is the antithesis of common sense and definitely contrary to the message from the campaign trail.
Being transparent would lead to saying what they’re thinking, even if the plan wasn’t 100% finalized.
The mantle of leadership is not worn well by all and this man has a long way to go to proving he is worthy.
Can we please be provided with a more official looking proof of vaccination than a hand written card. Something issued from govt. or HSA.
We will need it traveling to other countries
That will be the next delay. Move the goalpost again and everyone will wait until there is an official vax card. Then squabble about which countries’ cards are credible will be the next delay. On and on….again and again.
5:41 am. You are correct, give us a good Vaccine card. Similar to a voting/driving license sized card. For everyone will need that for travel etc as everyone knows Covid not going away anytime soon.
So if a fully vaccinated mother comes in with an unvaccinated 2-year old child, how long do they have to quarantine?
6 weeks.
14 days for any group with an unvaccinated person/teenager/child
Not listening or can’t read….
I don’t understand what the PACT is trying to achieve with this new goal post move. I am a bit confused in how the Population has grown from 65,000 to 71,100 in 7 months, when the Progressive was in power the target was 65 to 70% to reach heard immunity (Correct me if I’m wrong) at that point they will consider a date to open the border safely. Now the PACT said it will take 80% to reach heard immunity,smh. Now let me just turn to the subject of quarantine, what is this non-essential travel? You mean if I want to travel to Miami just for a few days for other business, and return back to my lovely Island, I have to pay $2,800 for 14 days quarantine in a Hotel if I don’t do a home isolation. Let’s say 70% of the population is vaccinated, 10% below the target. And the people that would travel now would have been vaccinated, and according to PACT as of next week those people would be quarantine for 5 days when returned, does that mean they would have to pay $1,000 to stay at a Hotel? To me the opposition plan on Tuesday of opening up border safely sounds better than what the Government gave to us yesterday, which is no plan. At least the opposition didn’t put a price for quarantine in their plan. This goes to show leadership over not understanding leadership, especially with all crisis we have going on today.
2:50 am. Your are one of those people that always ask what the Government can do for you, but never ask yourself what you can do to help the Government so they can help the people. You want to go shopping/partying in miami and want the Government to pay for your Hotel when you come back to Cayman. Shame on you.
why aren’t the chamber of commerce and cita not not petitioning the governor regarding this shambolic performance of ‘pact’???
they still have no plan…..
so how many other countries in the world are questioning their census numbers to prevent re-opening?????
answer=0
pact have no no plan…and have not got the guts to admit it…
The census numbers were outdated here.
Easy to sit there and say, “he got this” in true MC Hammer style with his backup dancers Kenneth and Chris and Sabrina (soothing radio voice—NOT!), but what is he going to do about this?
RELAX FOLKS!! Min Bryan has a fresh supply of Burger King vouchers for everyone and a chance at the Powerball if you go get your vaccine now.
Wayne and his minions are really really a disappointing bunch. At least the PPM acted on issues, whether we disagreed with them or not is another question, but they had leadership and direction. These guys are … all over the place.
PS. Anyone seen Jay, Julie, Andre or Bernie?
Whatever happened to the $10,000 raffle sponsored by CITA and R3? Never saw another word about that once the vaccine supply ran out.
Cayman Airways flights are pretty much full for July, as is BA for the next three months. Why cant we allow some American Airways flights in to give us some more travel options as well as make connections easier?
Sounds like essential travel then?
The lack of confidence that the PAC inspired today was truly indescribable…
We waited weeks and weeks for this?
They don’t even really seem to have a plan to have a plan based on how the questions were answered (or not answered).
Much of what was said by PACT today should concern everyone.
PACT is still pushing the vaccine and KB is looking for a $100,000 pot of gold to bribe people to get jabbed with an experimental drug.
The Premier said that PACT is following the science and when the island opens up, we will have to mask up and socially distance indoors. Why? We were told that once we have the vaccine we can get back to normal. Isn’t this the reason for PACT pushing the vaccine? For those who wish to wear a mask and socially distance as an extra precaution, they should do so. But why make it mandatory for everyone?
The Minister of Health and the Premier both said that travel abroad should not be for recreation. Why? If travelers are willing to quarantine what is the problem? And if they have received the vaccine, so much the better, at least in many people’s mind.
And what about the work permit holders who will now be required to be vaccinated in order to keep their jobs in Cayman? What are the exemptions to this new policy?
The simple fact that both The Premier and Minister for Health totally missed that practically every person boarding the BA flight departing today , and the one 2 weeks ago is going to England on recreation / summer vacations , raises the obvious flawed policy announcement on what is ‘Essential Travel’ .
Why should there be exceptions to the work permit vaccination policy?
“Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced another prize draw for everyone who has been vaccinated, and this time it’s for cash. He said he was reaching out to the business community to help him raise up to $100,000 to fund a number of significant cash prizes”
— why not a Million dollars Kenneth? This just doesn’t make any sense. It’s not the money. Too many people don’t qualify or won’t take it. It’s time to open more seriously. There was a time in history when some of us got sick. We need to all get colds and coughs and get sick again. This Government is showing its inexperience and could wind up driving us back into the stone age with their fear and inexperience.
Far more likely that this conveniently revised population estimate is the “error”.
Pacthetic
These imbeciles couldn’t manage their way out of a paper bag.
Not that the previous lot were much better. Easy to sling mud from the sidelines.
Absolute clowns, the lot of them.
Pastor Alfredo
Dear godddd. Open already
“From 1 July those entering Cayman on non-essential travel who are not able to isolate at home will be required to pay to use the government quarantine facilities. Health Minister Sabrina Turner said the cost is around $2,800 for two weeks. But there will no charge for the home residency isolation programme.”
^ I don’t understand this. If you aren’t able to isolate at home, don’t you already have to pay to use the government quarantine facilities?
It feels like I’m missing something.
Currently, Caymanians get to stay at govt facilities for free.
At their own risk.
As do Permanent Residents.
Now Panton says he will share the full reopening plan in a few weeks. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Now we’ve reduced quarantine to 5 (really 6) days for fully vaccinated people. Better than 11 but still pointless.
Now we have a population of 71K (where did these extra people come from?) I call BS.
Now we need 10K more to be vaccinated to reach 70%. What new prizes will be offered?
Now we need 17k more vaccinated to reach 80%. Better get some big prizes lined up for this number of people to get on the vaccine bandwagon.
Now Panton says by December we might be able to end quarantine. Don’t hold your breath.
Now we have no possibility for tourist to return for the Christmas/NewYear holiday. No one will book a trip not knowing if quarantine will still be in place.
Now we have a new set of movable goal posts. Beep Beep back it up…they just keep on moving.
Now we know pension holiday is extended through December – and that is the answer to when PACT will really consider allowing tourism to return.
How many of you think it will be March or April 2022 before CIG really gets the cajones to reopen the border to tourism?
Next goalpost target – 12 to 15 year old’s will need their vaccination. After that, the 6 month to 12 year old vaccination, after that – CI bond market will be getting real cheap. And inflation in the CI will be looking like a dumpster fire.
I say this all with sorrow. I love the CI and this will not be good to see when all the restaurants are gone and the food in Foster’s is comparable to the cost while dining out.
UK isn’t going to be vaccinating under 18s so CIG needs to find someone else to donate those jabs!
Why is no one talking about the alternative treatments that Trump took that have been approved?
See around the 1:14:41 mark on the briefing on YouTube
Replaced one load of muppets with another.
So work permit holders have to be vaccinated – okay!
I assume work permit dependents have to be as well – does this mean no kids under 12 for work permit holders?
A lot of people could be leaving cayman if that is the case – lets hope they sort this out.
Clown show.
B.S.#1:
We were planning a press conference for over week but didn’t tell anyone until this morning. But it has nothing to do with PPM’s press conference yesterday.
B.S.#2:
We have been working non stop on a reopening plan, but we still can’t tell you any details other than it “might” start mid September.
B.S.#3:
Question asked whether those in quarantine now who are fully vaxed can have their quarantine reduced to the 5 days as has been approved. Wayne’s answer, “Uh…well….um… no because that’s the way its been done before”. Then Swifty Saunders steps in for the save with “no because the people in quarantine now didn’t do the pre flight test therefore they don’t qualify for the new protocols.” But they were tested when they arrived doofus. What’s the difference? A more honest response would have been an awkward chuckle and shoulder shrug.
My apologies if this has been answered already but for clarification if a family plans to travel to Cayman for tourism and they have kids say under 12 not eligible for vaccinations will they be able to visit as tourists when the borders open without quarentine?
As of now, no. People traveling this summer with kids have to do the full 15 day quarantine.
No. They will have to quarantine for 16 days (not 14).
Not vaccinated = quarantine
And vaccinated = quarantine
Stupidity at its finest
Not unless you are willing to stay for a 14+2 day quarantine.
My vacation isn’t long enough for that.
Need Vaccine cards the size of say drivers license, so people can carry them around in their Wallets. These bulky one that we have now is hard to carry around without bending them. They are even bigger than Passports.
Ask a stupid question, Pact will give you a stupid answer.
There’s a lot that hasn’t been answered.
This presser was short on details and long on complaining about the previous government.
No idea. No announcement on what happens when ‘tourism’ allowed – whether there’s any quarantine & if so what the requirements are.
Because there is NO plan. Same old story.
At present, it appears not.
They will have to quarantine.
I know a local family who had to travel with the kids on an emergency, and despite both parents being vaccinated, the kids are not, so they had to quarantine for the full 14 days.
No you do not. No one has to travel with kids “on an emergency.” They chose to travel with kids.
Yes, I need to see my mother who is dying and I’m a single parent. I’ll just leave my 5 year old home alone.
5 days quarantine makes absolutely no sense for vaccinated people. Not opening up in June or July to catch the summer travel is a big misfortune. They are traveling and now, not to Cayman. Not setting an opening date, another disservice. People are planning for their winter travel and it won’t be to Cayman. Waiting because of the need to train locals for jobs in hospitality- had over a year to do this and missed the mark. Can’t figure out the population numbers- vaccinated the most at risk and any others who wanted it. Enough said. People will forge vaccination cards- if the community is vaccinated- if one or two slip by, it will not cause a catastrophe and the majority will not be bringing illegal documents on a holiday. Border should be opened immediately to those vaccinated to get locals working again and save the restaurants and hotels that are going under.
You must keep in mind that we have to coordinate with the airlines. We can not just open with out flights coming in and that can not open with the snap of a finger. They need advanced notice and time to adjust schedule. Better safe than sorry. Government is taking the right stand in my opinion.
Coordinating with airlines should have already been done!
Nonsense. All airlines have excess capacity right now given the limitations in international travel. BA just furloughed thousands of its staff again this week.
BA flights to Cayman are full for the summer. And this are at full fares, so very profitable flights. BA could easily fill several more flights right now, and significantly more if vaxxed quarantine is eliminated.
And Cayman Airways obviously has capacity for more flights as they used to run several flights each day.
Even if we waived quarantine during the summer now, we’re not going to get tourists. There are barely any flights, not very many people can afford to travel privately, and those who can, have already decided to go somewhere else where hotels etc are properly open.
It’s difficult for Caymanians who appreciate the safety bubble to understand, but US tourists in particular don’t care at all about Cayman’s success in protecting public health. And there are more interesting destinations in the Caribbean that are open and don’t charge some of Cayman’s eye watering prices.
The delay to the total waiver of quarantine is hugely frustrating for vaccinated Caymanians who are traveling over the summer, but it’s too late to have dealt with the tourism issue anyway.
I respectfully disagree. If the quarantine was lifted and the green light given to the airlines – you will have monied tourist pouring in. You have those with second homes and condos that come and stay as well as the those that just come and rent. You are right about the safety bubble, especially when many US states have been fully open for months. It looks silly from the outside looking in. Open up, places everywhere already have. No funeral pyres, no mass graves, no swamped hospitals. No one even talks about the CV where I live as it appears to have disappeared with the vaccine.
Be aware that getting a 72 hour PCR test with nasopharyngeal swab is quite a feat in the US right now, and will not get any easier. Few test facilities use the “brain tickler” swab any more and CIG guidance says the type of test sample must be on the test report form. Is CA going to turn people away a the Miami airport?
Not my experience at all in South Florida.
Yawn.
Now they decide to count short term residents, who won’t be counted in a census? Who bothered to check how many of them were already fully vaccinated before they arrived?
Many of us complained about this when the vaccines were first given out. Many wealthy people were coming here on Private aircraft doing their quarantine and getting their shots done and then leaving. I know a family of five that did exactly this. They were unable to get it in the States at the time and they had the money, the time and got to enjoy the freedom that Cayman gave them whilst they waited on their second shot. The upside of this they loved it here and bought a condo and have come back twice since then..The downside was they were counted as residents but they were nothing more than short term visitors..
Can you imagine the population total if we counted all those coming in nightly by canoe.
They will be included at the next movement of the goalposts.
So who at the ESO will be held accountable for their grave “error”?
Nobody. Uncle Franz doesn’t hold anyone from the civil service accountable for anything they mess up
They just get more money for working hard!
It is not an error. It is maladministration. They know the issues and have long refused to deal with them including when lives depend on it! Perhaps we can now start seeing numbers that have some bearing on reality.
Y’all was hyping up about open up claiming we reached herd immunity. Told you all that the population estimate of 65k was wrong. Plus herd immunity takes BOTH shots!!
Everyone seems to be skipping over how Dr. Lee said to reach 80% of the 71k we need and additional 10k vaccinated but to reach herd immunity 17k more vaccinated persons would be necessary.
There is no science, anywhere, which points to a need for a 5 day quarantine period for fully vaccinated persons. Prove me wrong Dr. Lee
Wayne knows this. He’s just trying to take it slow for all the vaccine hesitant voters (and reluctant cabinet members?) he feels he needs to win over with a pro-border opening strategy.
I’m as frustrated as anyone – I’m vaccinated but in quarantine with an unvaccinated child – but I don’t think we could have expected anything more at this stage.
Taking his orders from UK….you must get an experimental vaccine trial and be the guinea pig say our overlords for big pharma!
pact don’t do facts.
Totally agree – this is quackery
Clowns
Wayne is the only one with education. The others read the script prepared by their principal secretaries.
So I expected more dignity from Wayne than the constant and childish personal references to the shortcomings of the opposition .
Step up to a leadership role , the election is over.
Disgraceful and cowardice. We all knew the goalposts would be moved and they were. Creating a convenient new population is a new low however. No plan Pact showed their true colors today and it wasn’t a good look.
If you think any of this has been based on science I want what you’re smoking
They’re screwed if they did and screwed if they don’t. FULL STOP
Anyone who thinks the population here is 65K, given the amount of traffic on the roads, is blind. I would think it’s actually closer to 75K.
Thought Kenny would have sorted the traffic by now? Not like he will have any tourism to worry about for the next 18 months. Spending all his time worrying about discriminatory raffles
Why would Kenneth have Traffic sorted out? First of all, he’s not in the Ministry in charge of that and secondly how would he fix a problem in 2 months that the previous government couldn’t fix (and made worse) in 8 years? Make it make sense!
Minister for Tourism and TRANSPORT!
He was on Rooster this morning saying public transit is a mess but he needs another show to tell us his plan to fix it.
Kenny is great at using large words that might not mean what he thinks they mean and talking in circles. Getting things done well we will see…
You don’t come across as biased at all!
Oh boy have I got news for you!